Panel cabinet



y 1940. G. MAECHTLEN ET AL ,0 7

PANEL CABINET Filed Feb. 23, 1938 L 1 1 1. 4 FR 2 Sheets-Sheet l LA WIPE/vc G. MAECHTL 5m 5y HAROLD 4. 001/441.

HARE/6, K/sc/ FOSTER a Name/s ATTOR/VE Y6.

y 1940. L. G. MAECHTLEN ET AL 2,208,007

PANEL CABINET Filed Feb. 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FgJO.

i Z /Nl/N7'OR$ 4 73 LA WRNC G. MAECHTLE/V 7 5y HAROLD A. OUz/ALL HARR/S,K05 CH, F0570? 1 HARR/s Patented July 16, 1940 Mrs srs

PANEL v CABINET Lawrence G. Macchtlen, SanMarino, and Harold A. Duvall,Los Angeles, Califi, assignors to Square D Company, Los Angeles, Calif.,a corporation of California Application February 23, 1938, Serial No.191,946

1 Claim.

Our invention relates to electrical control devices, particularly meansfor housing such control devices, and is directed specifically to animproved form of cabinet panel for controlling circuits for motors andthe like.

The present invention is concerned primarily with problems arising inthe installation of such panels. These problems are of three kinds: Thefirst relating to the adapting of panels to various 10 electricalmechanisms and circuit requirements,

the second relating to arrangements for supporting the panel as requiredfor different installations, and the third relating to weather-proofingrequired for outdoor service.

The general object of our invention is to provide a panelconstructlonthat is flexible in the sense that it is adapted. to meetthese various problems, whereby a single model may accommodate any of avariety of mechanisms and may be adapted to various locations anddiverse operatrequirements. More specifically, it is our object toprovide a single basic box structure adaptable to various mechanisms andvarious circuit hookups, in combination with accessory fittings to adaptthe box to various types of support and to outdoor use when required. Q

The advantages of such a construction are numerous. The undifierentiatedbasic structures may be manufactured in relatively large lots, and laterdiilerentiated for particular installation requirements as they aredrawn from stock. It will be apparent, then, that manufacturing costswill be relatively low, and that only a limited number of models need bestocked to mect a variety of 3 demands. It will also be apparent that abasic.

structure once converted to a particular type to meet the requirementsof a particular installation may be subsequently reconverted to anothertype to meet the requirements of another and different installation. I

The above and other objects and advantages of our invention will beapparent from the following detailed description considered with theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings: r Fig. l. is a front elevation of a basic cabinetstructure;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown Fig. l; w Fig. 3 is asection taken as indicated by the broken line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken as indicated by the line 4-4 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar section taken as indicated by the line 5-5of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a hood that is attachable to the top ofthe basic structure for outdoor installations;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a bracket or saddle that may be mountedon the hood;

- Fig. 8 is a hood for weather-proofing apertures in the vertical wallsof the basic structure;

Fig, 9 is an enlarged sectional detail showing a bearing incorporated inthe basic structure;

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of a basic structure converted intoa modelrequired for a particular outdoor installation;

Fig. 11 is a similar View showing the basic structure converted into amodel for another outdoor installation;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the basic structure converted into amodel suitable for an indoor installation;

Fig. 13'is a side elevation of another model for indoor service derivedfrom the basic structure;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a second type of basic structureconverted into a model for indoor use;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of a leg that may be employedwith the basic structure.

As best shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the basic structure 2% is a box orcabinet having a top 2|, a back 22, a bottom 23,'left and right sides 24and 25 respectively, and a door 26 providing the front wall of thecabinet.

The top wall 2| of the basic structure has formed therein an elongatedmeter-loop knockout Zl', the metal being heavily scored or offset bydies whereby the portion indicated may be readily dislodged byhand-tools to receive a well known type of meter-loop bushing (notshown), screw holes 28 being provided for anchoring the bushing to thewall 2|. The top Wall 2| also has circular knockouts 29 at variouslocations, three being shown in the drawing, for the purpose ofreceiving fittings for running conduit to and from the panel. Each ofthese conduit knock-outs comprises a ooncentric series of circularscores of various diameters, as indicated, whereby metal may be removedto provide holes of various diameters as required for conduit of varioussizes.

The back wall 22 of the basic structure is provided with knock-outs ofthree sizes for a variety of purposes. The larger knock-outs 30 aresimilar to knock-outs 29 previously described and serve the samepurpose, namely, to receive conduit fixtures, there being, bypreference, one such knock-out near each corner of the box, as shown.Somewhat smaller knock-outs 33 are distributed over the back wall 22 ina, pattern or combination of patterns conforming to the base blocks andhangers of the various circuit breakers, knife switches, fuses, andsimilar devices that may conceivably be required in variousinstallations, the knock-outs 33 being positioned to register with thebolt-holes of said devices.

A feature of our invention is that the smallest knock-outs in the backwall 22 indicated in the drawings by the numeral 34 may be positioned toserve a variety of purposes in difierent types of installations. Thelowermost knock-outs 34 near the bottom of the cabinet may be employedto mount the box on legs or other base structures; the uppermostknock-outs 34 near the top of the cabinet may be employed for attachinga weatherproofing hood to the cabinet or a hanger for mounting thecabinet; and any of the knock-outs 34 at the top, bottom, orintermediate positions may be employed for attaching the cabinetdirectly to a wall or other vertical supporting means.

The bottom wall 23 of the cabinet, as best shown in Fig. 5, is providedwith a number of concentric conduit knock-outs 35, similar to thepreviously described knock-outs 30' and 33, and serving the samepurpose, there being, by preference, three such knock-outs. The bottommay also be provided with a plurality of holes 35 for ventilating theinterior of the cabinet.

The wall 25 at the right side of the basic structure, shown in Fig. 2,may have a conduit knockout 3'! near the lower end of the box, and hassmaller single knockouts 38 similar to the small knock-outs 34 of theback wall and serving similar purposes.

- The small knock-outs as near the bottom of the box may be employed tomount the box on legs or other supporting base structures, and the topknock-out 33 may be employed either for supporting the box or forattachment of a weatherproofing hood thereto. In the particular basestructure chosen for illustration, the side wall 25 has an aperture 33to receive a push-button fitting, small screw holes 40 being providednear the aperture for attachment of the push-button fitting to the wall.Above the aperture 39 are small knock-outs 42 for attachment of aweatherproofing accessory to shelter the push-button where required foroutdoor service.

Since the particular cabinet illustrated is designed to house a switchthat is manually controlled from the exterior of the cabinet, the sidewall 25 has an aperture 43 to receive the switch handle 34 shown inFigs. 10, ll, 12, and 13, and a pair of suitable stops 45, to limit themovement of the handle, are attached to the wall 25 by spot-welding orother means. Since it may be desirable to lock the door 26 of thecabinet, a bent plate or angle 46 may be riveted or spot-welded to theside wall 25 to cooperate with a similar member 4'! carried by the door,each of the members having a hole 48 for a padlock.

One type of switch mechanism, for which this particular cabinet isdesigned, includes a crank 58 (Fig. 9) rotatable within the cabinet tooperate switch blades in a well known manner that need not-be described,the crank being controlled by the external switch handle M. Bent plates53 or angle-iron clips, or other suitable stop members are mounted onone or both of the side walls of the cabinet to limit the rotation ofthe crank 55, the positions of these plates being indicated in Fig. 9.

"One of the features of our'invention in the form here underconsideration is a bearing construction that may be incorporated in theleft side wall 24 to journal the left end 54 of the crank 50, thebearing construction being best shown in Fig. 9. This bearing isprovided by swaging the v side wall outward to provide a cup-portion 55to The left wall 24 of the cabinet may also be' provided with conduitknock-outs 58, two such knock-outs being shown, and is additionallyprovided with small knock-outs 59 corresponding to the knock-outs 38 ofthe opposite side wall and serving the same purposes.

The door of the particular basic structure being described has acircular aperture 60 to receive a button controlling a relay resetdevice (not shown), this device being mounted on the inner side of thedoor by means engaging small screw holes 63. Small knock-outs 64 in thedoor grouped above the aperture 60 are provided for attachment of aweather-proofing hood to shelter the recessed button when the cabinet isinstalled outdoors. In the central area of the door, additional screwholes 65 may be provided for the purpose of mounting on the outersurface of the door a plate displaying printed matter relating to theoperation of the control mechanism housed in the cabinet. Near one edgeof the door is an aperture 66 to' receive a latch handle 61 shown inFigs. 10 to 13, and near the top of the door may be formed a series oflouvres 58 to serve the purpose of ventilating the interior of the boxin cooperation with the vent holes 36 in the bottom of the cabinet.

For the purpose of supporting the cabinet from a floor, attachable legs53 are provided by our invention, which legs may be of channelconfiguration formed as indicated in Figs. 10, 12, 14, and 15. Each leghas a web 10 and two flanges H. At the bottom of each leg are tongues 13integral with the flanges and a tongue 74 integral with the web '10, thethree tongues being provided with suitable bolt holes, as shown, foranchoring the bottom of the legs to the floor. At the top of each legare inwardly bent tongues 15 (Fig. 15), having suitable screw holes bymeans of which the tongues may be anchored to the box, and the web ofeach leg extends upward above these tongues 15to provide a flange 16 tolie against the side of the box, the flange having bolt holes 11positioned to register with the knock-outs 38 or with the knock-outs 59in the opposite sides of the cabinet.

A pair of legs, such as described, provide a rigid support 'for acabinet, since the legs are anchored to the floor with the bent-overtongues 15 pressed against the bottom of the cabinet and with theflanges 16 at the sides of the cabinet under tension, the rigidity ofthe construction being attributable to the fact that the two legs arestressed in opposition to each other.

The construction of a weather-proofing hood as one of the accessoryfittings for converting the basic structure into a panel suitable foroutdoor installation is shown in Fig. 6. The weather-proof hood [8 has aback wall 19, a left side wall 30, a right side wall 8!, and an inclinedtop 82having a flange 83 extending downward on all four sides andoverhanging the back and side walls of the hood. Toequip a basicstructure for outdoor service, this hood is fitted to the top of thecabinet, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the sides and back of the hoodlying against the outside surfaces of the corresponding sides and backof the cabinet. The hood may be readily bolted or riveted to the basicstructure, the hole 84 in the,

left side wall of the hood registering with the upper hole 59 in theleft side wall of the cabinet,-

the hole in the right side wall of the hood registering with thecorresponding hole 38 on the right side wall of the cabinet and otherholes (not shown) registering with corresponding holes 34 in the backwall 22 of the cabinet.

An important feature of one form of our in-- vention is the combinationwith the weatherproofing hood of a pole-bracket for supporting thecabinet. This bracket may comprise a saddle member 81 shown in Fig. '7and a hanger member 88. In the construction shown, the saddle comprisesa plate 89 having holes to register with holes 34 in the back of thecabinet and having holes SI and 92 to receive rivets for attachment ofthe hanger 88. Mounted on the plate 89 by rivets or other means is apair of straps 93 shaped to provide arcuate rear faces 94 for contactwith circumferentially spaced points on the periphery of a pole. Thespacing between the bracket plate 89 and the pole upon which a givencabinet is to be mounted will vary with the diameter of the pole. Thehanger member 88 is, however, of readily flexible or deformablematerial, such as soft iron, and may be bent or ofiset as required tohave the cabinet hang vertically when a bolt or other attachment meansextending through an aperture in the bracket holds the bracket againstthe pole.

A construction shown in Fig. 8 is suggested for a weather-proofingaccessory to shelter either the relay reset button that extends throughthe aperture 60 in the door of the cabinet or the push-button controlthat is fitted in the aperture 39 in the right wall of the cabinet. Thismeans 91 comprises a hood 98 having a flange 99, in which are holes I00positioned to register either with holes 64 in the front door of thecabinet or holes 42 in the side wall of the cabinet.

Fig. 10 shows a basic structure converted into a model for outdoor usewhere the cabinet is to be supported from a floor. The basic structure20 is provided with a hood I8 at the top, a hood 9'! to protect therelay reset push-button I02 on the door of the cabinet, and a secondhood 9'! to protect the control push-button I03 on the side of thecabinet. In the particular installation shown, a conduit I04 from ameter box (not shown) is connected with one side of the panel cabinetand a second conduit I05 leading to the motor, or other device to becontrolled, is connected with the opposite side of the panel,corresponding knock-outs being removed from the walls 'of the basicstructure to provide the required apertures. The cabinet is rigidlysupported by legs 69 anchored to the floor I06.

Fig. 11 shows the same type of box with the legs omitted, the box beingsupported from above by means such as a bolt or lag-screw I01 in thepole I08 engaging the hanger 88. For further anchorage a saddle I09constructed as shown in Fig. 7 may be provided at the bottom of thecabinet, the saddle being riveted or bolted to the cabinet through holes(not shown) registering with the lower holes 34 in the back wall of thecabinet. The plate of the saddle extends below the bottom of the cabinetand is apertured to receive a suitable bolt or lag-screw IIO. In thisparticular installation, conduits I04 and I05 are both connected withthe bottom of the cabinet.

Fig. 12 shows an indoor installation in which the cabinet is mounted ona pair of legs 69. All weather-proofing hoods are omitted. The conduit684 from the meter is connected with the top wall of the cabinet andtheother conduit I05 is connected with the side wall.

Fig. 13 shows another indoor installation, the cabinet being mounted ona wall II2 by screws tit passing through apertures provided byknock-outs 34 in the back wall of the cabinet. The conduits I04 and I05are connected with the top and bottom walls respectively of the cabinet.

The forms of our invention described to this point are all built up fromthe particular basic structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5, which basicstructure is designed for installations in which a fuseprotectedknife-switch is employed. For an installation, such as indicated in Fig.14, requiring circuit breaker instead of fused disconnect circuitprotection, a somewhat different basic structure is desirable, but itwill be apparent, at a glance, that the basic structure from which themodel shown in Fig. 14 is derived is so similar to the basic structureheretofore described that, up to an advanced stage, the manufacturingoperations for the two basic structures will be identical.

Fig. 14 shows the cabinet II4 mounted on the usual legs 69 for indooruse, a cabinet having the usual conduits I04 and I05 connected to itstop and side walls respectively. This particular model difiers from thepreviously described models principally in having an aperture in thedoor through which extends a circuit breaker handle H5, instead ofhaving a switch handle at the side.

For the purpose of complete disclosure and to illustrate the principlesinvolved, we have described certain forms of our invention in specificdetail. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, thatour inventive concept is not restricted to the particular constructionsset forth, and we therefore reserve the right to all changes andmodifications that come within the scope of our appended claim.

We claim as our invention:

The combination with a box-like cabinet of the character describedhaving a front wall, a rear wall, side walls, a top wall, and a bottomwall, of means for adapting the cabinet to an outdoor installation on apole of cylindrical configuration, said means comprising: aweatherproofing hood adapted for attachment to said cabinet, said hoodhaving a top wall to overlie said too wall of the cabinet and having arear wall to lie against said rear wall of the cabinet; a pair of fixedhorizontally spaced bracket legs extending rearward from said rear wallof the hood to abut said pole with the spacing of the rear wall of thehood from the pole varying with the curvature of the pole periphery; anda hanger strap extending upward from said rear wall of the hood normallyparallel with said rear wall of the hood, said strap being deformable tocompensate for variation in said spacing of the hood from the pole topermit the cabinet to hang in substantial alignment with the pole.

LAWRENCE G. MAECHTLEN. HAROLD A. DU'VALL.

